Less than two months ago, Jusuf Nurkić was struck in the face by Draymond Green on a nasty blow, one that got Green ejected and left him suspended indefinitely.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After the game, Nurkić had an infamous quote about Green’s actions.
Green ended up doing counseling during his suspension, and the two met again last night in Golden State for the first time since the incident.
Tensions flared right away between the big men when Green was called for a foul guarding Nurkić in the first quarter, and the two went face to face and exchanged words after.
Draymond Green and Jusuf Nurkic going at it early 🍿
📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/qs30y7V3PW
— ESPN (@espn) February 11, 2024
This continued throughout the rest of the game, highlighted by when Jusuf Nurkić did a “too small” celebration on Green by slapping the floor. Green responded by doing the same celebration a few possessions later.
Draymond Green and Jusuf Nurkic exchanging 'too small' taunts.
You love to see it. pic.twitter.com/KAvAAb12KO
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) February 11, 2024
In the end, the Warriors ended up winning the game 113-112 on a Steph Curry game-winning 3-pointer. Nurkić ended the game with six points, six rebounds and four assists. Green had 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Nurkić had some choice words for Green after the matchup.
“It’s sad,” Nurkić said. “He didn’t learn anything. Just a matter of time, he’s going to hit somebody else again. Take back everything I said. He don’t deserve a chance.”
Nurkić followed up with what he thought Green was doing.
“Just antics,” Nurkić said. “Trying to hit people, the stuff he shouldn’t do. But I don’t care, at the end of the day he can try to play that way, but (I) don’t worry about that.”
(Video credit to AZ Central’s Duane Rankin)
"It's sad. He didn't learn anything. Just a matter of time. He's going to hit somebody else again. Take back everything I said. He don't deserve a chance."
Jusuf Nurkic on Draymond Green, who got suspended after hitting him in face Dec. 12.
"Antics. Try to hit people." #Suns pic.twitter.com/fEF2hLJuyS
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 11, 2024
Both Green and Curry replied to the situation and Nurkić’s comments.
Green called Nurkić a “nothing defender” and a “dummy.” He added that “quiet guys don’t win.”
(Video credit to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater)
Draymond Green on the ‘too small’ back-and-forth taunts with Jusuf Nurkic: “You can’t be a nothing defender if you gonna do that.” pic.twitter.com/va7P9w9MpY
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 11, 2024
Curry said that Nurkić’s comments were “idiotic” and that Green was in his head all night.
Steph Curry called the Jusuf Nurkic postgame comments on Draymond Green “idiotic”
“Draymond was in his head. Plain and simple.” pic.twitter.com/O6tV6EOFBa
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 11, 2024
These two teams don’t meet again for the rest of the regular season, but safe to say, tensions have not cleared between Green and Nurkić. We will see if they end up squaring off in the playoffs.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
